The Quicker Picker Upper

On Friday June 1st, the Exxon Mobil pipeline in the Yellowstone River near Laurel, Montana ruptured spilling crude oil into the river and all along its banks. After the spill Exxon Mobil issued several statements claiming the clean up efforts were in full effect, and by "in full effect" they meant that they placed ineffective boons on the river to contain the spill, and used about 2,500 "absorbent pads" to soak up the oil. (Still no word on whether Bounty or Brawny is more effective in absorbing oil without tearing.)

Some of the "clean up" efforts by Exxon Mobil.

The President of Exxon Mobil, Gary Pruessing, also stated that they were still unaware of how the oil spill happened and that it was "very unusual." In a recent interview on PBS News Hour he stated, "Obviously we had a lot of oil enter the water very quickly and whatever it is, it is something that is very unusual for us. It is not something we have our hands around yet."


So, while Exxon Mobil is one of the most profitable companies this planet has ever seen, five days after an oil spill no more than six feet below the river bed, they still don't have their hands around it? Not only should that be an embarrassment for the company, but it should be an embarrassment for tax payers as well. We are continuing to subsidize oil companies with millions of dollars each year and they can't seem to find a better way of cleaning up their own messes than with some paper towels!? We can no longer accept this kind of behavior, either we stop giving them money, or we demand that they use it to find cleaner, smarter and less dangerous ways of drilling. Why we haven't been demanding this all along is beyond me. 

Image of the Yellowstone River after the pipeline ruptured.